Scams Targeting Seniors on the Rise: Here’s How to Thwart Them

People everywhere like to make money–some by honest means, others by exploiting others dishonestly. Scammers are not only becoming more prevalent, but also more dangerous, as technological advancements enable them to more easily pose as someone they are not with AI voices or interfaces that look like an official company letter. According to the FBI, Americans aged 60 and over are the most impacted by scams, with fraud cases targeting the elderly causing over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023. And those are just the cases that have been reported: many victims of fraud do not report their cases out of feeling of shame or self-blame.

The dark web of the internet, which requires deep knowledge of digital technology, is a place where scammers can even purchase scripts that they use to take advantage of people, particularly seniors.

“Scammers are increasingly targeting older New Yorkers through scams that prey on their perceived unfamiliarity with new technology,” according to Jeanine Launay, Chief of the Manhattan District Attorney Elder Abuse Unit.

Law enforcement bodies and support organizations like the AARP provide resources and even human volunteers to help seniors navigate a landscape where scammers prowl, but it is most helpful for seniors to equip themselves with the knowledge to fight them off and act as their own first line of defense.

Beware of these scams

In New York, the most common scams are “grandparent” scams, romance scams and lottery scams, says Launay.

‘Grandparent’ scam

Last year, a 78-year-old woman on the Upper West Side lost $9,500 to a scam artist pretending to be her grandson asking for money to get bailed out of jail. More recently, police in the 24th Pct said an Upper West Side senior lost $15,000 because he thought he was posting bail money for his granddaughter in Colorado. The scammer pretended the “granddaughter” was caught by police for driving while intoxicated.

That’s a common ploy in the ‘grandparent’ scam. The fraudster impersonates your loved one—a grandchild is a favorite one for scammers—and pretends to be in an emergency, such as an injury or legal trouble. They’ll ask for money to get out of this bind, and plead for you not to tell anyone else (“please don’t tell mom!”).

These scams have become increasingly sophisticated: another person may get involved, pretending to be a lawyer, police officer, or another authority figure.

The scammer may use personal information, obtained from social media, to make the plea more convincing. They can also spoof your loved one’s number, making it appear as though they are calling from the person’s phone. Con artists may even use artificial intelligence technology to imitate the loved one’s voice — often convincingly.

Romance scams

When her husband died after a 45-year marriage, Long Island woman Connie Rotolo met a man who claimed to be an engineer in the Philippines. In the throes of the pandemic lockdown, she appreciated his company. But after six months, he began pressuring her to send him money, claiming he was using it to pay off “dangerous people who might harm them both,” according to a CBS investigation. In total, she sent him $468,000.

Law enforcement officials warn that many scammers may exploit your desire for companionship by developing what feels like a close, and even romantic, relationship with you—all the while pretending to be someone they are not. They might reach out to you via a fake social media profile and with a made-up life story, claiming that they want to get to know you. They’ll converse with you over texts and calls, and maybe even make grand promises like luxurious gifts and even marriage. But eventually, the scammer will ask for money. If you refuse, they may leverage your rapport to manipulate you.

Frequently, romance scam artists pretend to be working overseas in order to avoid in-person meetings, according to the FBI.

“Nelson Counne used an expertly crafted persona and elaborate web of lives to convince women to hand over their savings,” said Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Jr. “While the scale of this fraud is remarkable, romance scams are are all too common.”

Prize scams

If you receive a call, email, letter or text out of the blue, telling you that you’ve won a valuable prize through a sweepstakes or lottery you don’t recall entering, it’s likely too good to be true. It may be a scammer who says that you’ve won a game of chance, but that you must pay a fee first in order to access the prize. They may pressure you into paying quickly by adding a deadline. They may even send you a realistic-looking check for a large sum, accompanied by a request for processing fees, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Or they may ask for your bank information. You shouldn’t have to pay to access an actual prize; as the FTC warns, “Real prizes are free.”

Investment scams

In June, New York’s “Worst Boyfriend” Nelson Counne was sentenced to four to eight years in prison for defrauding at least five women through a romance and investment scam, stealing a total of $1.8 million. He met his victims online, pretending to be an independently wealthy man who owned homes in London and France, according to the Manhattan D.A.’s Office. Soon after entering false relationships with the women, he presented them with what he called “an investment opportunity,” promising them windfall profits. He actually moved in with several of his victims, but would often disappear for long stretches on “business trips.” After an initial payment from his mark, he’d made successive requests for additional funds for what he claimed to be investment-related expenses. The victims never saw a return on funds.

“Nelson Counne used an expertly crafted persona and elaborate web of lives to convince women to hand over their savings,” said Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Jr. following the sentencing in June. “While the scale of this fraud is remarkable, romance scams are all too common.”

In many investment scams, the scammer will present an investment opportunity, promising a quick profit with little effort on your part. The FTC lists cryptocurrency, real estate, precious metals and “investment training scams” (where scammers convince you to pay them for teaching you how to invest) as common types of investment scams.

According to the FBI, investment scams are the costliest for the victims, accounting for over $1.2 billion in losses for victims over the age of 60 in 2023.

Check-washing scams

When Molly and Randy DeGesero, the owners of an Upper West Side dog daycare center, mailed a check to Con Edison for their electric bill, they were surprised to see over $20,000 taken out of their bank account, according to a report by Eyewitness News. Someone had stolen the check from the mail collection box, and used chemicals to “wash” off the original payee name and dollar amount.

What the thief did is called “check-washing,” and can happen when a bad actor gets their hands on your checks. Filling out all the spaces on your check and using gel pens, which are harder to “wash,” can help ensure your money ends up where you intended it to.

Medicare scams

Scammers may reach out via phone call, text message, postal mail or online, pretending to be from Medicare. They may promise free items or services, in exchange for a fee. They may offer to provide a service, such as helping you switch plans or get a refund, in order to obtain your Medicare or Social Security number, which they can then use to file fraudulent claims under your name.

These scams become more frequent during the annual open enrollment period, which starts in mid-October and ends in mid-December.

Tips for safeguarding against scams

To avoid getting caught in a world where the truth of a call or message can seem ambiguous, the best tool seniors have might be a list of red flags to identify.

1. Don’t make any quick decisions

Scammers often try to rush their would-be victims into a bad decision. A customer who receives a demand to give up personal information can “stop the scammer by remaining composed and refusing to play along,” said Michele O’Connell, Con Edison’s senior vice president of Customer Operations.

2. If something seems unusual, it probably is

A call or message might be a scam if they ask for a specific method of payment, especially methods that companies don’t typically use, like bitcoin or third-party apps. If one is unsure, they can verify to see if the potential scammer is lying –matching their own bills with the information provided by the caller.

3. Be prepared and stay vigilant

The AARP advises people “watch over your credit reports, don’t carry PIN numbers or passwords in your wallet or purse, and protect your mail.” When receiving unfamiliar mail, seniors are advised to not even click on attachments they don’t recognize.

4. Be familiar with various systems of payment

Mayor Eric Adams recently warned of a new scam called “smishing” in which a fake email arrived telling the recipient that he had a $2.50 balance due on a parking ticket to avoid a $25 penalty. “The Department of Finance and CityPay will never request payment from anyone via text messages,” Adams said at a recent press conference.

Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy said he himself was targeted. “Just want to be clear. This is a scam,” he said during a recent press briefing. “First of all, it has a .com. City agencies don’t use .com.”

5. Stay on top of statements

Experts say that bank statements should be checked regularly for unauthorized payments. If an unfamiliar phone number comes calling, seniors should not speak into the phone immediately–scammers can record voices to use for their own nefarious purposes.

6. Know who can help

Finally, to report a scam and access related resources, people should call the Manhattan DA Elder Abuse Unit helpline: (212) 335-9007.